Lomé Architecture Encounters Reimagines Togo's Modern Heritage

In late 2024, the first Lomé Architecture Encounters (RAL #1) took place at the Palais de Lomé, a recently restored colonial-era palace in Togo's capital. Curated by transdisciplinary Studio NEiDA, the event featured lectures, film screenings, workshops, and building visits for architecture students from the University of Lomé. A parallel exhibition showcased the country's most significant architectural history. The encounters aimed to explore Togo's architectural heritage, particularly neglected modern buildings like the Hôtel de la Paix, which require creative, bottom-up conservation approaches unlike colonial structures such as the Palais de Lomé. The Palais de Lomé, built in 1905 under German colonial rule, served as the governor's palace and later as the presidential palace after Togo's 1960 independence. After falling into disrepair in the 1990s, it underwent a five-year restoration by Segond-Guyon Architectes, reopening in 2019 as a cultural venue with exhibition, restaurant, and educational spaces. RAL #1 was the beginning of a cross-border journey questioning modern heritage conservation.